How does 'heroification' embody and celebrate American Ideals?

Loewen believes that Americans have cheapened the definition of hero, and that American ideals have been cheapened by our view that athletes, actors, and a wealth of other people are worthy role models and figures. He also says that American teachers, authors, and textbooks have idealized and glorified notorious figures for bad behavior regardless of whether they deserve praise or not. Example- Woodrow Wilson, cited by Lowen as deeply racist, something we don't see in a presidential biography.